A Waukegan man was arrested and charged with the burglary of a Beach Park gas station over the weekend, and a second suspect is being investigated, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Marathon gas station at 37740 N. Sheridan Road, Beach Park, for a possible burglary in progress, Covelli said.
Responding officers found signs that a burglary had occurred, set up a perimeter and began searching the area. Deputies found 19 cartons of cigarettes, valued at over $1,300, on the ground in the area.
Sheriff’s Detective Christopher Covelli said deputies then located an area where the offenders were believed to have run, and requested the assistance of Waukegan Police Department’s Canine Unit. With the assist of the canine unit, Michael J. Peterson, 26, of the 1000 block of Muirfield Avenue, Waukegan, was located and attempted to run from officers, according to Covelli. Peterson was captured and taken into custody with the assistance of the Waukegan Police canine.
Covelli said Peterson was transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, where he allegedly admitted his role in the burglary to sheriff’s detectives.
Peterson was charged with three counts of burglary, theft over $300 and criminal damage to property, all felonies, and resisting/obstructing a peace officer, a misdemeanor. He is currently being held in the Lake County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail with a court date scheduled Jan. 27.
Covelli said Wednesday morning that a second person of interest has been identified in the case, and detectives are continuing with the investigation, including interviews and collecting videotape pertaining to the burglary.
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